Rain started falling Saturday, July 21, 2018. It rained daily until Thursday, when a bright yellow fireball in the sky made its appearance again. However, thunderstorms could return Friday and next week.

Here's the latest news:

Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com

Some good comes from the bad

Those who suffered damage this week found out first-hand that disaster can bring out the good in people.

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Some bridges have reopened around the area

Several Dauphin County bridges were reopened Friday, county officials announced. Here's the list.

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Update: Body ID'd as missing woman

Authorities said late Friday morning that Laura Olweiler is the woman whose body was found in the Conewago Creek on Thursday night.

The 19-year-old Elizabethtown woman died of accidental drowning after falling into the creek Monday night, said Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, the Lancaster County coroner.

Her body was found by a volunteer searcher about three-quarters of a mile from the spot she was last seen near the border of Dauphin and Lancaster counties. The search begun Monday night had to be called off several times because of dangerous conditions.

Central Pennsylvania is still dealing with effects of this week's rain.

The Susquehanna River in Harrisburg barely reached the minor-flood stage, and is expected to gradually subside through the weekend. The river was at 15.01 feet as of 8:01 a.m. Friday, putting the river in the action stage, during which recreational use of City Island begins to be curtailed.

Waterways throughout central Pennsylvania are beginning to subside after periods of heavy rain this week.

The Susquehanna River at Harrisburg was at 15.41 feet as of 6 a.m. Friday, which is just below minor flooding stage. The river is expected to continue to drop through the weekend.

Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern swelled considerable this week, but it has dipped back down to the action stage. The creek was at 8.72 feet as of 6 a.m. Friday, just below the minor flooding stage of 9 feet.

Swatara Creek near Hershey is also down considerably from earlier this week, but is still in the minor flooding stage. The creek as at 9.19 feet as of 6 a.m. Friday.

A coroner is attributing the death of a Pennsylvania man to flooding that has soaked the region over the past week. Adams County Coroner Pat Felix announced her finding Thursday regarding an 18-year-old who had been missing.

State police said the body of Alejandro Morales of Biglerville was found Wednesday along the Conewago Creek in Butler Township in Adams County. Morales had left his home by vehicle on Saturday evening and was considered to be in danger for unspecified reasons.

Felix says he was likely stranded by high water in the Biglerville area, then was swept away when he attempted to get out of his van and walk.

The 26th Pride Festival of Central PA will still be held Saturday, but is moving from Riverfront Park to the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg due to safety concerns for festival attendees and vendors because of the Susquehanna River flooding.

Gov. Tom Wolf and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency director Rick Flinn, following a visit to parts of central Pennsylvania to survey the damage on Thursday, said now attention turns to clean up and assessing the damage caused by the flash flooding from five days of rain.

With at least a temporary respite in today's weather, cleanup is under way at Hersheypark. We reached out to the park's staff to see what their plans would be going forward. Here are some of the highlights:

Rides are being assessed for damage.

People seeking refunds for tickets expiring this month should send a Facebook message to the park.

The decision on whether the park will be open Friday will be announced on its social media channels.

All bridges crossing the Swatara Creek in Derry Township, Swatara Township, Hummelstown and South Hanover remain closed, officials said Thursday.

Routes 39 (pictured) and 743 have suffered some damage from the flooding. PennDOT is expecting to repair Route 743 Friday. PennDOT is scrambling to finish road repairs ahead of some big weekend events in Hershey.

Water covers the parking lot at Fort Hunter, along the Susquehanna River in Susquehanna Township, July 26, 2018.

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Mark Pynes, PennLive.com

Walnut Street Bridge

A view of the Walnut Street bridge, partially washed out by a flood in 1996, as the Susquehanna River tops flood stage July 26, 2018.

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Travis Kellar, PennLive.com

How much rain?

A lot of rain fell across Pennsylvania this week.

National Weather Service in State College is working to compile rainfall totals for the week, but the agency has put the recent rainfall into a different perspective.

Enough rain fell across a 100-by-158 mile section of the state to fill 3.3 million Olympic-sized swimming pools. The length of an Olympic-sized pool is 50 meters long, 25 meters wide, and up to 3 meters deep.

That equates to 2,196,673,249,690 gallons of water at a weight of 9.2 billion tons.

If Beaver Stadium were a bowl, that amount of water would fill it about 8,289 times.

At 5:30 a.m. Thursday, a car drove into the washed out area across the road, and his vehicle dropped about five feet. The road had been closed and there were large signs, but someone had moved them off the road. The driver was not aware of the hazard.

The driver wasn't injured, but his Chevy Cavalier had substantial damage, police said.

Planters and other items that once sat on the lower deck at Dockside Willies along the Susquehanna River in Wormleysburg were perched on higher ground next to the restaurant, which caught fire on Monday evening. Owner Don Carter said once the river rises to 14 feet, that deck starts taking on water.

Despite that being a massive undertaking of moving all the planters and other furnishings, that seemed to be the least of Carter's concerns on Wednesday as he spent the afternoon pouring out all the beer and liquor inside the fire-damaged restaurant and readying the adjacent Rock Bass Grill to reopen on Thursday.

"I keep looking up at the sky and saying, 'is that all you got,'" Carter said.

Flooding at Duke's, his other riverside restaurant in Wormleysburg, as well as Rock Bass Grill wasn't a concern for him. The river has to reach a depth of 25 feet before those restaurants get flooded, he said.

City Island on the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg on Wednesday evening, July 25, 2018.

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Matt Miller, PennLive.com

Flooding on the Yellow Breeches Creek

Heavy rain pushed Yellow Breeches Creek over its banks in western Cumberland County on Wednesday evening, July 25, 2018.

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Travis Kellar, PennLive.com

When will the flooding recede?

Although it's not supposed to rain today (Thursday), waterways throughout central Pennsylvania are still high and probably will stay that way into the weekend.

The Susquehanna River at Harrisburg was at 16.71 feet as of 5:01 a.m., which is just below the minor flooding stage. The river is expected to climb to 18.8 feet by early Friday morning, and it will recede into the weekend.

The Swatara Creek at Hershey is at the major flood stage but should start to recede over he weekend.

Drone footage of the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg shows the waters rising toward flood stage early Wednesday evening. The river is expected to rise above flood stage on Thursday and crest at 18.3 feet by Friday morning.

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Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

Hershey shelters to stay open all night

The American Red Cross continues to operate two shelters opened Wednesday to assist those who have been displaced by the flooding in central Pennsylvania. As of 9 p.m., the shelters at Hershey High School (Dauphin County) and Donegal Intermediate School (Lancaster County) had two residents at each location, with others who have stopped in throughout the day.

Red Cross volunteers will continue to welcome affected residents in need of a safe place to sleep this evening. Those coming to a shelter should bring identification and their personal medications and medical supplies with them. It is also recommended that residents bring blankets, pillows, extra clothing, personal hygiene items, any infant/child items and important documents.

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As of 10 p.m., 57 roads closed across Pa.

Update as of 10 p.m. from PennDOT: 57 state roads closed. Please note that if the water recedes tonight, we still may opt to keep roads closed if we believe they are damaged. An assessment will be done in the morning. Bridges will need to be assessed for structural safety, which may take a few days depending on the number involved. Again, please urge people not to drive tonight unless absolutely necessary. Much more difficult to see flooded roadways that may not be marked yet.

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Jason Malmont, for PennLive.com

Flooding on Route 39 in Derry Township

The Route 39 bridge near the Giant Center, Hershey, Pa, has overflowed its banks and has closed to the road. Taken early Wednesday evening, July 25, 2018.

No records have been set. But the flooding along the Swatara Creek near Hershey has reached 16.5 feet, the second highest level recorded, the weather service said.

The weather service noted the "historic flooding ongoing in the Lower Susquehanna Valley" in a post on Twitter Wednesday.

The weather service has also compiled some five-day rainfall totals throughout the region, including an eye-popping 13.5 inches at DeHart Dam.

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Sean Simmers/PennLive

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Alert sent out to those around Schuylkill County dam

This notice was sent out just after 7 p.m. Wednesday. The dam owner / operator will commence surveillance of the site to determine the need for further action, such as evacuation or termination of the alert"

"The Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency advises that due to conditions at the Moon Lake Dam (aka Beury's Grove) in Barry Township, the public should avoid the area downstream of the dam including: Acorn Drive, Lake Drive, Rosie's Lane (f-408), the intersection of Rosie's Lane (f-408) and Beury's Rd (T-601) and Mill Lane (T403). Stay tuned for further information."

Mayor Eric Papenfuse and city officials announced that the island would be closed, forcing those who park on the island to make other plans. Residents are urged to stay off the island during the flooding and cleanup.

The South Londonderry Township Police Department reports that Mount Wilson Road in South Londonderry Twp. is closed between Mt. Gretna Road in Colebrook and Harvest Road due to a sinkhole that has developed in the roadway. Motorists must find alternate routes of travel and obey all road closure signs and devices. The duration of the closure is unknown at this time.

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The flood forecast: A timeline

Many central Pennsylvania communities are already seeing flooding but the Susquehanna River and some creeks are expected to continue rising tonight and tomorrow.

The Susquehanna River is expected to continue to get higher tonight and tomorrow before cresting Friday morning. The Swatara Creek near Hershey, which has already produced plenty of flooding in Hershey, Swatara Township and Hummelstown, isn't expected to crest until tonight. Some residents have fled their neighborhoods in voluntary evacuations.

The American Red Cross is opening two shelters to assist those who have been displaced by the flooding in central Pennsylvania. The shelters, which will open at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 25, will be located at:

Hershey High School 550 Homestead Road, Hershey

Donegal Intermediate School, 1177 River Road, Marietta

The shelters will provide food, a safe place to sleep, and support for local residents who have experienced flooding or storm damage in their homes. Those coming to a shelter should bring identification and their personal medications and medical supplies with them. It is also recommended that residents bring blankets, pillows, extra clothing, personal hygiene items, any infant/child items and important documents.

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Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Jonestown declares flood emergency

A borough in Lebanon County has declared a disaster emergency due to the flooding.

The National Weather Service in State College has extended the flood warning for urban areas and small streams in parts of 23 counties until 6 p.m. Wednesday.

In the midstate, these areas include central Lancaster County, Dauphin County, Franklin County, Perry County, Cumberland County, western Schuylkill County, Adams County, York County, Juniata County and Lebanon County. Some locations that may experience flooding include Lancaster, Harrisburg, York, Lebanon, Chambersburg, Carlisle, Lower Allen, Hanover, Pottsville, Hershey, Ephrata, Colonial Park, Elizabethtown, Waynesboro, Berwick and Columbia.

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Laura Shearer, Submitted to PennLive

Joyce Lane residents asked to evacuate in Swatara Township

Residents on Joyce Lane in Swatara Township have been asked to evacuate, and the street is currently closed. Police and other emergency officials are on site to assist residents with the evacuation.

Dangerous rip currents are expected to form along the East Coast on July 25. Rip currents have already led to the deaths of at least 24 people in the United States this year, according to the National Weather Service. An estimated 70 people died because of rip currents in 2017 by the service's calculations.

Hershey Gardens and the Hershey Story Museum also are both open, as well as Hershey's Chocolate World. The facility offers food, entertainment, and a free tour ride. Some of their ticketed entertainment attractions include chocolate tasting, 4D Chocolate Mystery show, Trolley Works, and Create Your Own Candy Bar.

The Susquehanna River at Harrisburg was at 11.62 feet as of 5 a.m. Wednesday. It is expected to continue to swell to the minor flood stage at 17 feet by 6 a.m. Thursday, and it'll teeter on the moderate flooding stage when it climbs to 19.9 feet by Friday morning.

Swatara Creek at Harpers Tavern has reached the major flooding stage, and is expected to remain there through Thursday evening. The creek was at 16.93 feet as of 5:31 .m. Wednesday, over the major flooding stage of 15 feet.

As of 5:45 a.m. Wednesday, Swatata Creek near Hershey was also at the major flooding stage at 14.64 feet. The creek is expected to climb to 15.1 feet into Wednesday night.

The Yellow Breeches Creek near Camp Hill was at 7.77 feet as of 5:47 a.m. Wednesday putting the creek into the minor flooding stage. The creek is expected to swell to 8.5 feet by Thursday morning before gradually receding.

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Sue Gleiter, PennLive.com

Hersheypark closes again Wednesday

Once again, Hersheypark in Derry Township is closed. Spokeswoman Kaylee Dugan said due to the emergency declaration in Derry Township, the park will not open on July 25 for the safety of employees and guests.

New sinkholes are under repair in an alley behind Cherry Street in Palmyra.

The sinkholes are in the alley between Cherry and Maple streets, which is south and west of the ongoing closure due to sinkholes in the 300 block of Cherry Street, said Brenda Pera, assistant borough manager.

A news release from the Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society said when members of the organization surveyed the area, the water was at 7.1 feet and moving fast, estimating it was rising an inch every 10 minutes.

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Route 39 over Swatara Creek being closed

PennDOT has advised motorists that Route 39 over the Swatara Creek between Derry and South Hanover townships in Dauphin County will be closed at around 7 p.m. The closure is due to flooding and concern about pressure from the water flow on the bridge carrying Route 39 over the Swatara Creek. The bridge will reopen after flood waters have receded and conditions permit.

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Flood warning extended to midnight across central Pa.

The National Weather Service has extended its flood warning until 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 25, 2018, for urban areas and small streams for the following areas of central Pennsylvania:

western Lancaster County

Northumberland County

Huntingdon County

Dauphin County

Franklin County

eastern Centre County

Snyder County

Columbia County

Union County

Perry County

Cumberland County

Tioga County

eastern Clinton County

Schuylkill County

Adams County

York County

Mifflin County

Juniata County

Fulton County

Lycoming County

Montour County

Sullivan County

Lebanon County

At 5:54 p.m., the National Weather Service said, flooding continues across the region and rain will continue, heavy at times, tonight. It's expected to taper off overnight and resume Wednesday.

The National Weather Service in State College has extended a flood warning for several creeks including: Penns Creek, Conodoguinet Creek near Hogestown, Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern, Swatara Creek above Middletown and Swatara Creek near Hershey.

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Route 743 to close in Dauphin County

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has advised motorists that Route 743 in Derry and East Hanover townships (Dauphin County) will close between Route 22 and Hersheypark Drive by 3:30 p.m. today. Sandbeach Road, which runs parallel to Route 743, remains closed between Route 22 and Hersheypark Drive. Canal Road between Route 743 and Sandbeach Road also remains closed. Dauphin County maintenance crews are monitoring Route 39 for potential closure as well. Any closed roadways will reopen when conditions permit.

The bottom line: expect creeks across the region to continue rising today through Wednesday and possibly Thursday morning.

Creeks could continue to rise a few feet higher in the next couple of days, which isn't welcome news for those living near those waterways.

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Barbara Miller, PennLive.com

Why is it raining here and now?

A cold front from Canada can't arrive soon enough. It's what will be finally pushing away the upper level low over the Ohio Valley that's combining with a Bermuda high in the Atlantic Ocean to bring us torrential rain for days.

On Thursday, the cold front from Canada will sweep down and push the low away, said Paul Head, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in State College.

The upper level low has been locked in place by the same ridge in the west that's causing forest fires, he said.

Also, the Bermuda high is further west than usual - extending almost to the coast - which is steering the moisture into our area.

The low and Bermuda high have been pumping moisture over Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Damage assessment is beginning Tuesday in Schuylkill County, where heavy rain caused flooding in Pine Grove, Tremont and surrounding communities.

Water subsided from roads Monday after a raging torrent rushed down some streets in Pine Grove and Tremont. Crews began inspecting damage, clearing debris and making repairs, said John Matz, Schuylkill County emergency management agency director.

A flash flood warning was extended for several midstate counties Tuesday.

The National Weather Service in State College issued the warning that is in effect for west central Lancaster County, York County; southern Dauphin County and northeastern Cumberland County until 1:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Flash flooding can quickly cover a road, leaving drivers wondering what to do. In its safety campaign, "Turn Around Don't Drown," the National Weather Service/NOAA emphasizes that it's never safe to drive or walk through floodwaters.

For updated information on road closures, visit 511PA.com and click the box marked "incidents." Markers will be placed on areas where crashes or closed roads are reported, as well as the time of the last update.

If your basement floods, the first and last rule of safety is the same: Stay out of the water.

You run the immediate risk of electrocution, and the water likely is filled with harmful bacteria. Depending on the source of the flooding, raw sewage could be mixed into the water.

Also:

Remove the water as soon as possible. Again, this may involve calling in a professional, depending on how much water there is.

Once the water is out, get air moving through the basement as soon as possible and dehumidify the area. Mold will begin growing within 24 hours. Open windows and doors and use fans if you can.

Move damaged items out of the basement to dry in a well-ventilated area. It's important to get rid of any wet cardboard boxes right away, American Home Shield notes, because mold, mildew and bacteria will start growing there first.